Like most recovering alcoholics, there are times when I miss drinking. Even though I have been sober for over six years, alcohol can still call out to me, especially in moments of stress or emotional turmoil. It whispers my name and tells me how refreshing a nice, cold beer would be or how much fun it would be to have just one more margarita. I relapsed four times in my early years of sobriety, because I just couldn’t resist the temptation. Each relapse brought with it it’s own set of problems. Friends and even family began losing faith in me, and they were tired of helping me start over again. After the last relapse, I knew I had to try something new to stay sober.

9 Paths to Resistance

I came up with a list of things to tell myself whenever or wherever the urge to drink becomes too much to bear:

This Too Shall Pass – “This” refers to any circumstance, negative or even positive, that causes me to want to have a drink. I remind myself that whatever is going on is temporary; it will pass. I think back over all of the times I chose not to drink and how strong I felt by letting it pass. I also think about the times that I relapsed and all of the pain and suffering that went with it.
It’s Not Worth The Hassle – Sure, I would really enjoy that drink, but the price I have to pay for it is simply way too high. I don’t want to wake up in the morning wondering how I got home or if I embarrassed myself the night before.
There Is A Reason Why I Stopped Drinking – Since getting sober I am in control of my life, not my addiction. I don’t want to lapse back into the feeling that I must drink every day just to feel normal.
Hangovers Suck – This is one of my most effective deterrents, because I suffered with terrible hangovers. I would throw up every morning, and often times the headaches turned into migraines and I would miss work.
Do I Really Want To Lose Another Job – Those absences from work added up quickly. It’s embarrassing and demeaning to come into work one morning and be told to leave.
I Don’t Want To Hurt Anyone – If I relapse, I have to own up to everyone who loves me, and I can’t bear to disappoint them again. I also don’t want to hurt myself by having to face my failure to stay sober.
I Don’t Want To Lose My Self-Respect – I actually kept a picture of myself that was taken at a party, and I looked terrible. I was overweight, my hair was a mess, and my complexion was sallow. I have pride in myself now, and I don’t want to lose that.
I Don’t Want To Make Anymore Bad Decisions – When I drink, I do crazy things that endanger myself and others. I have a whole list of repercussions and recall them whenever I am tempted to drink.
Say No And Be Grateful Tomorrow – I’ve gone down many dark roads when I drank, and I am lucky to be alive today. I don’t want to wake up in a strange place or learn that I left my car in a snow-covered field. Staying sober means staying safe, and that is important to me.

With so many reasons and reminders why I want to stay sober, it makes maintaining my sobriety extremely desirable. My sobriety allows me to be the person I want to be, and no high from drinking can top that. The Oceanfront Recovery Alcoholism Treatment Program can help you or your loved one through the process of recovery from alcoholism. Our passionate and experienced clinicians focus on bringing the underlying causes of alcoholism or addiction to the surface with a modern and effective recovery program. Contact us at Oceanfront Recovery today for a confidential assessment with no obligation.